Multicultural Affairs
South Australia has a long history of migration. The State has a vibrant and culturally diverse society that has helped shape our identity as a proud multicultural state.
Our population has people from approximately 200 different birthplaces, speaking approximately 180 different languages at home who observe more than 95 religions.
Our migrant population has grown substantially. Since World War II, we have gone from almost 44,000 to around 400,000 South Australians that were born overseas. This is nearly a quarter of South Australia's total population. And of those 400,000 approximately 270,000 speak a language other than English at home.
As Minister for Multicultural Affairs, I have a long standing relationship with our multicultural communities. I am privileged to not only be the current Minister in the Malinauskas Labor Government, but also in the Weatherill Government from 2014-2018.
Multiculturalism makes our State stronger and more vibrant — so we are committed to supporting cultural diversity and creating a sense of belonging for all Australians.
The State Government has committed $4 million over four years to help multicultural communities keep their languages alive for future generations.
The investment is to promote the growth and development of the state's 99 accredited community language schools, continuing its efforts to grow a bilingual community in South Australia.
Delivering on our election commitment, the Malinauskas Labor Government recently announced details of the second year of state funding for community language schools in South Australia.
Acknowledging that high quality, dedicated learning environments are fundamental for better learning outcomes, the State Government created two Community Language Learning Hubs.
On 9 March 2023, in recognition of our incredibly valuable multicultural communities, our government also launched the South Australian Multicultural Charter, which acknowledges our culturally diverse history and provides principles to promote a unified, harmonious, and inclusive South Australian community that values, respects and supports diversity. In June 2024, the `Ambassador Program' an organisation-based program that activates the Multicultural Charter to embed its principles within the workforce and within the business practices of South Australian organisations, was also launched as a pilot and was adopted by a number of South Australian organisations at the local level, regardless of size and nature.
Alongside Premier Peter Malinauskas and the rest of our Labor team, I will continue to work and provide support to keep South Australia as a welcoming place of our migrants.
To contact me about Multicultural Affairs, please reach out to my Ministerial office by phone on 8429 3094 or by email at MinisterBettison@sa.gov.au.